Ciaran vs Denis

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ciaran

Boy #1,779 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"little dark one"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish Scottish British

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,779
Total SSA Count
92
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Kier, Ciar

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Ciaran →

Denis

Boy #1,643 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"follower of Dionysus, god of wine"

Origin: Greek Dionysios

Cultural Roots

French Russian Eastern European Spanish-speaking Irish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,643
Total SSA Count
103
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Den, Deni, Denny

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Denis →

Popularity Comparison

Ciaran Rank #1,779
Denis Rank #1,643

Denis is more popular, ranked #1643 vs #1779 for Ciaran.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Ciaran ___

  • Ciaran James
  • Ciaran Patrick
  • Ciaran Finn
  • Ciaran Declan
  • Ciaran John
  • Ciaran Liam

Denis ___

  • Denis Philippe
  • Denis Marc
  • Denis Patrick
  • Denis Pierre
  • Denis Antoine
  • Denis Julien

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Ciaran

Aoife Niamh Conor Declan Fionnuala

If you choose Denis

Nicolas Laurent Sophie Chloe Fabien

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ciaran or Denis more popular?

Denis is more popular, ranked #1643 compared to Ciaran at #1779 in the United States.

What do Ciaran and Denis mean?

Ciaran means "little dark one" (Irish Gaelic origin). Denis means "follower of Dionysus, god of wine" (Greek Dionysios origin).

Are Ciaran and Denis boy or girl names?

Ciaran is primarily a boy name. Denis is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Ciaran ← Full profile: Denis Browse all baby names